Cargo container floor system



Dec. 17, 1968 I TURPEN 3,416,465

CARGO CONTAINER FLOOR SYSTEM Filed June 21, 1966 l2 a 6 P1 2 32 gJNVENTOR.

ZA kZI RUSSELL LTURPEN F1 -3 BY i J a u TTORNEYS United States Patent3,416,465 CARGO CONTAINER FLOOR SYSTEM Russell L. Turpen, NorthRichmond, Califi, assignor to Compass Container Company, Inc., Richmond,Va., a corporation of California Filed June 21, 1966, Ser. No. 559,316 5Claims. (Cl. 105-422) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A cargo container isdescribed which has a floor system which is structurally strong andwaterproof and which is not susceptible to physical damage. The fioorincludes a metal base of transversely extending alternating ridges andgrooves upon which is secured a floor panel in bridging relation to theridges and grooves to define with the grooves a plurality of cells. Siderails secured to the side of the base close the ends of the cells andeach of the cells is filled 'with a foamed plastic slab. The side railshave upwardly extending vertical portions which peripherally enclose thefloor panel, and marginal side walls for the container extend upwardfrom the side edges of the base and are secured to the vertical portionof the side rails inwardly thereof.

This invention relates generally to fioor constructions for cargocontainers, and the like, and is more particularly directed to animproved fioor system of this type which is characterized by its extremestrength and watertightness.

Cargo containers, or equivalent bulk storage enclosures, are typicallyprovided with a floor system including a wooden fioor panel secured atoplongitudinally and transversely extending joists of wood or metal. Withsuch a floor system, a relatively large number of closely spaced joistsare required in order that the bridging portions of the floor panel haveadequate strength and do not sag appreciably under load. Such joists addmaterially to the cost of the container. In addition, the exterior ofthe floor panel of such a conventional floor system is exposed and thussusceptible to moisture deterioration in inclement weather, Moreover,the tines of a fork lift are typically engaged with portions of thefloor panel between adjacent joists in the handling of the container,and after sustained use the panel is damaged due to scuffing.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved floor system for a cargo container or the like, which systemhas an extremely high strength and rigidity without employment ofrelatively costly wood or metal joists.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cargo containerfloor system which is waterproof.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a floor system ofthe class described which is not susceptible to scufiing by a fork liftor equivalent handling equipment.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a composite wood,metal, plastic floor system of the class de scribed which is ofrelatively light weight.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some ofwhich, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the followingdescription of the preferred form of the invention which is illustratedin the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It isto be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by thesaid drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of theinvention as set forth in the claims.

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view with 'portions broken-away ofa cargo container floor system in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken at a longitudinal verticalplane through the floor system.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken at line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, there is shown a cargo container 11 whichincludes marginal side and end walls 12 and 13 extending upwardly from afloor system 14 in accordance with the present invention. The floorsystem includes a corrugated base 16, of preferably metal, defined by analternate succession of parallel ridges 17 and grooves 18 as viewed fromthe top. Of course, as viewed from the bottom, the ridges appear asgrooves and the grooves appear as ridges. The ridges and grooves arepreferably formed by parallel spaced elongated rectangular upper strips19, parallel spaced elongated rectangular lower strips 21 in downwardlyspaced staggered relation to the upper strips, and inclined rectangularside strips 22 interconnecting the side edges of the upper strips withthe side edges of the lower strips. The base 16 also advantageouslyincludes at least one set of rectangular channels 23 incorporated in theridge and groove structure to define downwardly facing recesses forreceiving the tines of a fork lift, or the like. The base may be furtherprovided with a plurality of bridge strips 24 secured transverse to thelower corrugation defining strips 21.

A floor panel 26 of preferably wood is secured atop the corrugated base16 in bridging relation to the ridges and grooves 17, 18. Moreparticularly, a plurality of stud bolts 27 are preferably provided toproject upwardly from the upper strips 19 of the base. The bolts extendthrough the floor panel to receive cap nuts 28 which thereby serve tosecure the panel firmly in place. The floor panel in conjunction withthe base 16 define enclosed elongated voids or cells in the regions ofthe upwardly facing grooves 18.

The opposite ends of the cells are closed as by means of brackets orbottom side rails 29 secured to the sides of the corrugated base 16 inbridging relation to the ends of the strips 19, 21, 22. Preferably thebrackets include a lower vertical portion 31, an upper vertical portion32 laterally outwardly offset from the lower portion, and aninterconnecting horizontal shelf portion 33 there'between. The shelfportion and upper portion facilitate the ready attachment of themarginal walls 12, 13 to the floor system. In this regard the shelfportion supports the base of one of the marginal walls, and stud bolts34 projecting inwardly from the upper portion through the wall andreceiving nuts 36 secure the wall to the bracket.

In accordance with the particularly salient aspects of the invention,the enclosed cells defined by the corrugated base 16, floor panel 26,and brackets 29 are filled by slabs 37 of foamed plastic material. Theseslabs are bonded to the lower and side strips 21, 22 of the base 16, thefloor panel 26, and brackets 29, to thus form a unitary composite floorsystem. Polyurethane is preferred as the slab material although otherfoamable thermosetting plastics may be alternatively employed. Inaddition, various thermosetting plastics that are not inherentlyfoamable may be employed to form the slabs upon adding a suitablefoaming agent, such as freon, thereto. In any event the slabs arereadily formed by introducing the plastic material to the cells throughapertures 38 provided in the lower portions 31 of brackets 29. Thematerial foams and expands within the cells to fill same, solidify, andthereby form the slabs after a suitable curing period. In the processthe material is self-bonding to the adjacent surfaces of the base, floorpanel, and brackets. The slabs in filling the cells provide an extremelystrong and rigid floor system. Moreover, it will be noted that the fioorpanel 26 is completely sealed from the out-side atmosphere and is thusnot susceptible to moisture damage. Where the base 16 is of metal, thefloor panel is protected from scuffing damage when the tines of a forklift engage the channels 23.

What is claimed is:

1. A cargo container of the type used for t-ransocean and land shipping,said container comprising a fioor having a corrugated metal base oftransversely extending alternating ridges and grooves defined byparallel spaced upper elongated rectangular strips, parallel spacedlower elongated rectangular strips, and inclined side stripsinterconmeeting the side edges of adjacent ones of said upper and lowerstrips; a floor panel secured to said base in bridging relation to saidridges and grooves and defining therewith a plurality of cells in theregions of said grooves; bottom side rails secured at both sides of saidbase to the ends of said upper, lower and side strips in closingrelation to said cells; each of said side rails including for its lengthan upwardly extending vertical portion peripherally enclosing said floorpanel, formed plastic slabs filling said closed cells, said slabsbonding said base, side rails and floor panel together to form a unitarycomposite structure; and marginal side walls extending upward from theside edges of said base and secured to said vertical portion of saidside rails inwardly thereof.

2. A floor system according to claim 1, further defined by said slabsbeing of formed polyurethane.

3. A floor system according to claim 1, further defined by said baseincluding at lea-st one set of downwardly facing channels for receivingthe tines of a fork lift.

4. A floor system according to claim 1, further defined by stud boltsprojecting upwardly from said upper strips through said floor panel, andnuts secured to the ends of said bolts to thereby secured said floorpanel to said base.

5. A floor system according to claim 1, further defined by a pluralityof bridge strips extending longitudinally of said base and securedtransversely to said lower strips of said base.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,388,968 11/1945 Hedgren 1054222,744,042 5/1956 Pace 105-423 3,195,477 7/1965 Jones et al. 105-4223,242,625 3/1966 Tillinghast 52309 3,258,890 7/1966 Dirkse 52309 ARTHURL. LA POINT, Primary Examiner.

R. A. BERTSCH, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,416,465 December 17 1968 Russell L. Turpen It is certified that errorappears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent arehereby corrected as shown below:

In the heading to the printed specification, line 4, "Richmond, Va.should read Richmond, Calif.

Signed and sealed this 31st day of March 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

